STUCK on you!

Friday

Jan 25, 2013 at 4:57 PMJan 25, 2013 at 5:12 PM

Laura Kurella

QUIP: The other evening, we were planning on having some friends over and we set about creating a few snack trays for them. However, when it came time to open that jar of salsa, the lid simply would not budge.

Being anxious, I scrambled quickly to my utensil drawer to fetch the round rubber mat I use to open stuck jars but, alas, it was not there.

Frantic, I grabbed at the jar again and threw my full force into it and...Nothing!

Not wanting to be a sissy, I did not call – or ask – for help. Instead, I again searched my utensil drawer, while moaning under my breath, “It’s got to be here somewhere!”

Coming up empty-handed - and the clock running down, I began to panic. “How am I going to get this darn jar open?” I said in frustration.

Suddenly, as though the spirit of my father had descended back to earth, I began to recall all the things he taught me to do in this situation:

TIP: Find something that will help you grip the jar lid. Dad used a rubber dishwashing glove to demonstrate. However, most homes don’t have these due to dishwashers but we do have dryer sheets and they have a gripping ability too, but I have found an even better FREE solution- PRODUCE RUBBER BANDS!

Yes, and what’s cool about these is you can put them on the jar and leave them there until you are done with its contents. That way you never have to go searching through the drawers for that rubber thing AGAIN!

FYI: Those old rubber message bracelet bands work well in a pinch, too!

So now that you have a gripper in place, try turning the lid with your dominant hand. If that does not work, try turning the jar with your dominant hand as your non-dominant hand holds onto the lid.

If this does not work, fill a shallow basin with very hot tap water and invert jar into it so that only the lid is submerged. Let rest for a few minutes, dry off lid, apply gripper and try again.

If none of the above work, go to a tool box, fish out a large pair of channel lock pliers. Use these with caution. Gripping too hard will shatter the jar. The longer handles on these pliers will give you the tension needed to move that lid and its contents so you can enjoy your company!